She eyed him.
“Are we in danger of being late?” she asked.
“Not if I drive like a pilot,” he answered, looking down at her quizzically.
“Drive like a Scout,” Aelliana whispered, and stretched up on her toes to kiss him.
* * *
“Aelliana Caylon Clan Mizel.” She straightened and looked boldly into Lady yo'Lanna's face, offering the bouquet of gloan-roses and gladioli they had gathered from Jelaza Kazone's gardens.
“Please accept a small token, ma'am, to commemorate our first meeting.”
“I thank you.” Lady yo'Lanna received the bouquet into her hands, and gazed at it for a long moment.
“Gladioli were my friend Chi's favorite flower,” she murmured. “I have always been partial to gloan-roses. It is well-chosen.”
“I had good advice,” Aelliana said, and Lady yo'Lanna smiled.
“Of course you did,” she said, and glanced aside with a smile that could only be said to be sardonic.
“Daav, it is good to see you among my guests once more. I think you know everyone who has come. Please do me the favor of reacquainting yourself, while I make Scholar Caylon known to all.”
He bowed, of course; there was nothing else he might decently do.
“Certainly, ma'am. Is there anyone in particular you would like to have drowned?”
She appeared to give the question serious consideration, head tipped to one side, and eyes dwelling on the flowers she held. “No, I thank you. I believe that today I am in charity with all the world.”
He bowed again. Lady yo'Lanna slipped her hand through Aelliana's arm. She cast him a single look over her shoulder from wide green eyes as she was led away, and he smiled as if he were perfectly comfortable with the arrangements.
He was not, to say true, completely comfortable with the arrangements, but that had more to do with his desire to be private with his lady, rather than sharing her among a dozen.
“How long,” asked a voice at his shoulder, “is that going to continue, young Korval?”
Daav turned to confront Delm Guayar, Clonak's father, coincidentally Lady yo'Lanna's brother.
“Good morning, sir. As long as your lady sister desires, I should think, but surely not upwards of a day or two.”
“Pfft!” Guayar frowned sternly. “The last time we met, I did you a good turn, sir. Do you intend to repay me by coming lack-witted and tedious?”
“Of course not! I hope to repay you properly in kind. Is there a bit of news I might drop delicately into one certain ear alone for you?”
Guayar considered him.
“I know what ails you,” he said at last. “You haven't any wine.” He slipped his arm companionably through Daav's and turned him toward the center of the garden. “Come, let us rectify that immediately. While we are on our way to the wine table, you may tell me how long you intend to allow the enchanting pilot to style herself 'Mizel.' ”
“As it happens,” Daav said slowly, “Mr. dea'Gauss is currently in negotiation. We hope for a speedy, and joyous, resolution.”
Guayar inclined his head.
“It relieves me to see you moving to consolidate your strengths,” he murmured. “I counsel, if it does not offend, that Korval can afford to be generous. When one wishes to acquire a jewel beyond price . . . ”
“I concur,” Daav said.
Perhaps he spoke a bit too sharply, for Guayar inclined his head and said no more.
They began to meet other guests. Daav made his bow to Lord Andresi, another of his mother's staunch allies, and to Nasil ter'Gasta Clan Idvantis. Seeing him on Guayar's arm, neither detained him long, and soon they were comfortable again, just the two of them.
“How does Clonak go on?” Daav asked.
Guayar moved his shoulders. “I assume he thrives, as the Scouts have not notified me of his attaining a less satisfactory condition. One never does hear from Scouts when they are at duty, you know. Your mother and I had used to speak of it, often.”
“Indeed,” Daav said, properly chagrined. “One might suppose I would be accustomed to that circumstance by now.”
“When the heart is anxious, the mind grows forgetful,” Guayar murmured, and slid him a sidewise look. “In my experience.”
Daav inclined his head.
“Ah, at last! The wine table! Let us turn you up sweet, young Korval. Have some of Ilthiria's canary; it is excellent.”
He took the older gentleman's advice, finding it good, as it so often was, and mingled with the guests who lingered in the area, pausing to speak with Thodelm Wespail regarding the latest vagaries of the market in aleut and the sudden popularity of vya among the Terran ports.
When he next glanced about him, Guayar was gone.
